FC Halifax Town scored four for the first time in a competitive match since a trip to Aldershot Town last season with an impressive 4-2 win over the Shots at the Shay this afternoon.
Town made it three wins in a week with victory over Aldershot after wins at both Gateshead and Morecambe.
The first opportunity came in the 5th minute when the ball was played into Shots frontman Josh Barrett with time and space he tried to chip Sam Johnson, but his effort was just over the bar.
The first goal of the game came in the 8th minute, a Jed Meerholz header back to his keeper saw miscommunication in the Shots defence and Will Harris was able to capitalise and tap home into an empty net for his second goal of the campaign.
The second came three minutes just later, Hobson’s long ball found Jamie Cooke who got to the ball before Dewhurst and was able to fire the ball into the net for his 2nd of the season.
Hmami and Cappello combined down the left, he looked for the cut back from the by-line but Ryan Jones was able to get there before Owen Bray as Town continued to push forward.
Owen Bray down the right-hand side looked to get the ball into the box for the run of Harris but Aldershot’s James Clarridge was able to block and then Jed Meerholz put out for a corner.
The ball was in the net again in the 26th minute, Harris flick onto Josh Hmami and he was able to chip Dewhurst again, but the offside flag was up against the Halifax midfielder.
In the 27th minute, there was a break in play as Dewhurst went down under no pressure and needed treatment from the Shots physio.
Great play saw Turner-Cooke win the ball in midfield, he found Harris, laid off into Hmami and then back into his path. Looked to go around Dewhurst and went down in the penalty area but play continued with no penalty awarded.
A cross into the box came off Shaun Hobson for a corner. Aldershot’s ball to the far post saw a header at the far post by Taylor but Johnson was able to claim.
Town got forward in large numbers in the 37th minute, Bray down the left hand side, cut inside and found Hmami, his shot from the edge of the box was parried out for a corner by Dewhurst. The ball onto the box was claimed by Dewhurst the second attempt who didn’t look convincing in the Shots goal
A late Aldershot corner gave them a chance to get a goal before the break and they took their opportunity. The ball was played short to Ryan Jones and then back to Barrett and his cross wasn’t dealt with and James Clarridge turned home into the net for 2-1.
There was still for another corner for the visitors, this time Josh Barrett’s ball found it’s way to the back post and the header came in but wide of the target
Town went into the halftime with a 2-1 lead.
Neither side made a change at the break and Town started on the front foot again. Jamie Cooke down the left hand side, looked for Harris in the box but Clarridge had to stick a foot on the ball and out for a corner. Turner-Cooke looked for Hobson who looked to being hold but Aldershot cleared and went up the other end nearly finding what had appeared to be unlikely equaliser. The ball was played out to the left hand side by Barrett, cut inside but fired his shot just past the post.
Hargreaves was disposed in his own half of Cooke, looked to get the ball to Hmami but his sot was blocked and the fans appealed for a handball in the box, but nothing given.
Sean Tarima was the first man in the book in the 49th minute with a foul on Josh Barrett
Barrett’s ball into the box looked for his teammate but Johnson was able to claim at the second attempt
Aldershot came forward again this time with a run by Henry, he looked for a team- mate but it was cleared to Tetek and his first time effort was deflected into the hands of Sam Johnson
Town restored their two goal lead. Confusion in the visiting defence again allowed Bray to find Cooke in space at the edge of the box and he was able to fire past Dewhurst for his second of the afternoon.
Adam Lakeland made a couple of changes with Will Hugill and Owen Bray replaced by Thierry Latty-Fairweather and Jack Jenkins, before a third sub soon after with Owen Devonport for Will Harris
A fourth goal was to follow with Angelo Cappello playing the ball in behind Aldershot and from a tight angle he fired home past Dewhurst
Substitute David Kawa had an effort over the bar, whilst another substitute AJ Warburton could only shoot wide after a cross from the right under pressure
The visitors pulled one back in injury time, the cross from the left-hand side from Ryan Jones was tapped home from inside the six yard box by Hady Ghandour
Town will travel to Rochdale on Wednesday night, 7.45pm kick-off
Match Stats
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson, 4 Will Hugill (36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather 68), 5 Shaun Hobson, 8 Josh Hmami (19 AJ Warburton 81), 9 Will Harris (31 Owen Devonport 73), 10 Jamie Cooke, 11 Angelo Cappello (22 David Kawa 82), 16 Jevon Mills, 17 Owen Bray (20 Jack Jenkins 69), 27 Jay Turner-Cooke, 29 Sean Tarima
Subs: 12 Nat Ford, 3 Adam Adetoro
Aldershot Town
1 Marcus Dewhurst, 7 Cameron Hargreaves, 10 Josh Barrett © (18 Kiban Rai 85), 11 Ryan Jones, 14 Jed Meerholz, 17 James Henry (9 Kwame Thomas) 19 Ryan Hill, 27 Archy Taylor, 30 Tristan Abrahams (23 Hady Ghandour 76), 32 James Clarridgen (5 Ben Jackson 85, 34 Dejan Tetek
Subs: 16 Patrick Nash, 15 Charlie Penman, , 24 Maxwell Mullins
Referee: Isaac Searle
Goals: Harris 8, Cooke 11, 63 Clarridge 45, Hmami 76, Ghandour 90+2
Yellow Cards: Tarima 49, Taylor 55, Hobson 74, Cooke 75, Thomas 88, Hill 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1385 (167 away)
FC Halifax Town 4 Aldershot Town 2
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